Method and system for emulating a check sorter

ABSTRACT

A method for communicating between a check processing system and a non-compatible check sorter is provided that includes accessing a MICR buffer for the check sorter. The MICR buffer comprises MICR data retrieved from a check. A process buffer is generated based on the MICR buffer. The process buffer is standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters. A plurality of feature instructions are received for the check based on the process buffer. The feature instructions are communicated to the check sorter for processing of the check.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/558,749 entitled, ‘METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMULATING A CHECK SORTER,”filed Apr. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,617 which is related toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/553,228 entitled, “METHOD AND SYSTEMFOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A CHECK SORTER AND A CHECK PROCESSINGSYSTEM,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,274, filed Apr. 20, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of document processing inthe financial industry and more particularly to a method and system foremulating a check sorter.

BACKGROUND

Within the financial industry, document processing is an important partof the daily management of a business.

Document processing systems include sorters for physically handling andretrieving data from checks and other items and data processors foranalyzing and storing the retrieved data. The sorters and dataprocessors intercommunicate data and instructions to individually readand process each check.

Conventional check sorters for document processing, such as the IBM 3890and 3890/XP series of check sorters, are relatively large and expensivemachines. Thus, purchasing one of these check sorters may place a greatfinancial strain on a small business or may be unreasonable for a largerbusiness needing to process a relatively small number of checks over thebusiness' current capacity. Smaller and less expensive check sorterstypically cannot communicate with existing data processing systems thatare designed to operate in connection with the IBM 3890 and 3890/XPseries of check sorters. As a result, the smaller check sorters are nota viable solution in many applications.

Attempts to solve this problem have included customized emulators whichallow a specific check sorter, which may be smaller and less expensive,to emulate the IBM 3890 and 3890/XP series of check sorters so that thedata processing system may communicate with the specific check sorter.However, these emulators are hardware-specific solutions. Thus, adifferent emulator must be designed, programmed and proved out for eachdifferent type of check sorter. This customization is time-consuming andexpensive and is thus not a practical solution.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a method and system foremulating a check sorter are provided that substantially eliminate orreduce disadvantages and problems associated with previously developedsystems and methods. In particular, a modular emulator for check sortersis provided that allows disparate types of check sorters to be managedby a common check processing system that is configured to work with aspecific check sorter.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for communicatingbetween a check processing system and a non-compatible check sorter isprovided that includes accessing a MICR buffer for the check sorter. TheMICR buffer comprises MICR data retrieved from a check. A process bufferis generated based on the MICR buffer. The process buffer isstandardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters. Aplurality of feature instructions are received for the check based onthe process buffer. The feature instructions are communicated to thecheck sorter for processing of the check.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for handlingchecks is provided that includes a sorter, an emulator and a checkprocessing system. The sorter is operable to retrieve MICR data from aplurality of checks. The emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulatoris operable to access the MICR date, to generate a process buffer basedon the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructionsbased on the process buffer. The process buffer is standardized for aplurality of disparate types of check sorters. The check processingsystem is coupled to the emulator. The check processing system isoperable to receive the process buffer from the emulator. The emulatoris further operable to communicate the feature instructions to thesorter. The sorter is further operable to process the checks based onthe feature instructions.

Technical advantages of the present invention include providing animproved method and system for emulating a check sorter. In particular,a modular emulator allows disparate types of check sorters to be managedby a common check processing system that is configured to work with aspecific check sorter. Thus, the modular emulator provides a solutionthat is independent of one or both of the check sorter and the checkprocessing system. As a result, a variety of smaller and less expensivecheck sorters may be used for excess capacity, by small businesses, orfor other suitable uses.

Other technical advantages include the ability to image by item. Inparticular, for each check, the front and/or the back of the check maybe selected for imaging. In addition, for both the front and the back ofeach check, the image may be recorded in black and white, gray scale orcolor.

Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled inthe art from the following figures, description, and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numeralsrepresent like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for handling checks thatcomprises a check sorter emulator in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a frame structure for the processbuffer of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing checksusing the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating betweenthe communication engine and the sorter of FIG. 1 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating betweenthe check processing system and the emulator API of FIG. 1 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system 10 for handling checksin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system10 comprises a modular emulator 12 for a check sorter, a check sorter 14for sorting checks for a financial institution or other suitable type ofbusiness and a check processing system 16 for making decisions regardinghow the sorter 14 is to process the checks and notifying the sorter 14of the decisions. As described in more detail below, the modularemulator 12 allows the check processing system 16 to communicate with anon-compatible sorter 14 as if the sorter 14 was a compatible sorter.For example, according to one embodiment, the emulator 12 emulates anIBM 3890 series sorter such as an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP sorter, and theemulator 12 communicates with the sorter 14 through standardizedprocesses.

The sorter 14 may be anyone of a plurality of disparate types ofsuitable sorters. The modular emulator 12 thereby allows a checkprocessing system 16 that is configured to communicate with a specifictype of sorter to communicate with other types of sorters 14 that arenot directly compatible. For the exemplary embodiment, the sorter 14 maycomprise a sorter available from NCR, BancTec, Unisys, or Digital Check,or other sorter capable of reading and exchanging MICR data throughstandardized processes.

The sorter 14 comprises a MICR reader 20 for retrieving MICR data fromthe checks, an endorser 22 for endorsing checks, a microfilm camera 24for recording microfilm images of checks, a digital camera 26 forrecording digital images of checks and a plurality of pockets 28 forreceiving sorted checks. The endorser 22 may endorse a check by printingendorsement information on the check. The endorsement information maycomprise the name of the bank or other financial institution processingthe check. The digital camera 26 may record an image of the front and/orthe back of each check and may record these images in black and white,gray scale and/or color.

Thus, different imaging data may be obtained for different checks. Forexample, the digital camera 26 may record a black and white image of thefront of a first check and a gray scale image of the back of the firstcheck and may record a color image of the front and the back of a secondcheck. It will be understood that the digital camera 26 may comprise oneor more devices for recording digital images of checks being processedby the system 10.

The sorter 14 also comprises a shared memory 30 that is shared with theemulator 12 and that comprises a MICR buffer 32. As described in moredetail below in connection with FIG. 2, the MICR buffer 32 comprises theMICR data retrieved from the checks by the MICR reader 20. The MICRbuffer 32 may be a copy or adaptation of the retrieved data. The MICRdata in the MICR buffer 32 is thus in a format that is specific to theparticular sorter 14 and need not be customized for the system 10.

The sorter 14 also comprises an interface 34 for interpreting emulatordata provided by the emulator 12.

This emulator data may comprise feature instructions for the sorter 14regarding the features of the endorser 22, the microfilm camera, thedigital camera 26 and the pockets 28. The interface 34 may bedevice-specific and maps instructions from the emulator 12 domain to thesorter 14 domain. Thus, based on the emulator data, the interface 34determines for each check whether or not to endorse the check, record amicrofilm image of the check and record a digital image of the check.The interface 34 also determines for each check which digital images andwhat types of digital images to record, if any, and which pocket 28 isto receive the check.

The emulator 12 comprises an emulator application programming interface(API) 40, a communication engine 42 and a code-executing emulator 44 forexecuting code provided by the check processing system 16 that isprogrammed in a language specific to the sorter compatible with thecheck processing system 16. For the embodiment in which the compatiblesorter comprises an IBM 3890 series sorter, the code-executing emulator44 comprises a stacker control instructions (SCI) emulator 44. Theemulator 12 may be compiled for execution on a Windows NT, OS/2, orother suitable platform.

The sorter 14 transmits a message to the API 40 for each check beingprocessed by the sorter 14. The API 40 may then access the shared memory30 to retrieve the MICR data for the check from the MICR buffer 32.Alternatively, the sorter 14 may pass the MICR buffer 32 to the emulator12 for processing. The API 40 converts the MICR buffer 32 into astandardized process buffer 50 by reformatting the MICR data into aformat that may be processed by the check processing system 16. Theprocess buffer 50 is standardized in that the format of the processbuffer 50 is the same regardless of the format of the MICR buffer 32 forthe sorter 14. In one embodiment, the standardized process buffer 50 isin the same format as the data provided by a compatible sorter withwhich the check processing system 16 is designed to operate. In thisembodiment, the emulator 12 emulates the compatible sorter for the checkprocessing system 16. Thus, for the embodiment in which the compatiblesorter comprises an IBM 3890 series sorter, the API 40 converts the MICRbuffer 32 into the standardized process buffer 50 based on IBM standardsfor the IBM 3890 series of sorters.

After processing is completed by the check processing system 16 for thecheck, the API 40 updates the MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30with the emulator data, which includes instructions for processing thecheck. The API 40 then notifies the sorter 14 that the update iscomplete, allowing the interface 34 to begin interpreting the emulatordata in the MICR buffer 32 to complete the processing of the check.

According to one embodiment, the API 40 comprises logic for performingthe functions described above. The logic may be encoded in hardware,such as a field-programmable gate array, an application-specificintegrated circuit, or the like, and/or software instructions stored inRAM, ROM and/or other suitable computer-readable media for performingthe functions associated with the API 40.

The communication engine 42 receives the process buffer 50 from the API40 for each check being processed by the sorter 14. As used herein, eachmeans everyone of at least a subset of the identified items. As theprocess buffer 50 is passed between components of the system 10, it willbe understood that any suitable portion of or the entire process buffer50 may be passed based on the data in the process buffer 50 required bythe receiving component.

After receiving the process buffer 50, the communication engine 42 callsa code line data match (CLDM) engine 52 which attempts to match anidentifier for the check in the process buffer 50 to an identifier in aCLDM module 54. The CLDM module 54 may store any suitable identifyinginformation as an identifier and other data such as MICR data, emulatordata or any other suitable data relating to the check for each of aplurality of checks previously processed by the check processing system16. Thus, for example, if a tray of checks being processed by the sorter14 is dropped or if the sorter 14 jams or if any other situation resultsin the checks being re-ordered after a portion of the checks have beenprocessed, the CLDM module 54 is able to provide the previouslygenerated emulator data for each of the checks which have already beenprocessed, thereby eliminating the need to fully process those checks asecond time.

According to one embodiment, the CLDM module 54 is stored in a personalcomputer or other suitable device operable to store and process data.The CLDM module 54 may store any suitable number of identifiers andrelated data for previously processed checks. According to oneembodiment, the CLDM module 54 may store up to 20,000 identifiers. Thenumber of identifiers stored in the CLDM module 54 may be changed by thecheck processing system 16 at any suitable time. Thus, for example, thenumber may be changed based on the number of checks being processed bythe sorter 14 at any particular time. If the number of identifiers to bestored has been embedded into a processing program, the embedded numbermay be overwritten to allow extended searching capabilities.

If the CLDM engine 52 finds no match in the CLDM module 54, thecommunication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44 which may executed SCIcode stored in a SCI module 60. According to one embodiment, the checkprocessing system 16 provides executable SCI code to the emulator 12 forstorage in the SCI module 60. The SCI module 60 may also comprise tablesof data received from the check processing system 16.

The SCI code in the SCI module 60 comprises a programming language forcommunicating between a check processing system 16 and an IBM 3890 of3890/XP. According to one embodiment, the check processing system 16 mayprovide new SCI code for storage in the SCI module 60 at any suitabletime. Thus, for example, new SCI code may be provided by the checkprocessing system 16 for each set of checks processed by the sorter 14.

When the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44, the SCIemulator 44 accesses the SCI module 60 and begins executing the SCI codestored in the SCI module 60. The SCI emulator 44 may comprise a programfile 62 that identifies one or more auxiliary programs 64 in theemulator 12. The auxiliary programs 64 comprise programs in languagesother than SCI code which may be easier to maintain. For example, theauxiliary programs 64 may be in C, C++, Cobol, Fortran, or any othersuitable programming language. According to one embodiment, theseauxiliary programs 64 provide an entry point for special endorsement.

The BCI emulator 44 may use the data in the program file 62 to callanyone of the auxiliary programs 64 instead of, or in addition to, theBCI code in the BCI module 60. The BCI emulator 44 provides the resultsfrom the execution of the BCI code and/or the auxiliary programs 64 tothe communication engine 42. According to one embodiment, these resultscomprise instructions for the endorser 22, the microfilm camera 24 andthe digital camera 26.

The communication engine 42 incorporates the results from the BCIemulator 44 into the process buffer 50 received from the API 40 inaccordance with a specified format for the check processing system 16.This format may comprise a header, trailer, and/or any other suitableinformation for providing to the check processing system 16 a returnaddress for the communication engine 42. The formatting is based on thetype of communication between the check processing system 16 and thecommunication engine 42. According to one embodiment, this communicationtype is TCP/IP. Alternatively, LU 6.2, channel connect, or any othersuitable communication type may be used. However, LU 6.2 and channelconnect are more expensive and complex types of communication thanTCP/IP. The communication engine 42 also provides online connectivity tothe check processing system 16 which allows real-time communicationbetween these two components 42 and 16. Real-time communication mayinclude an instruction to disengage the pass for re-orienting or otherinstructions between the communication engine 42 and the checkprocessing system 16 to dynamically change run time parameters oroperations.

According to one embodiment, the communication engine 42 comprises logicfor performing the functions described above. The logic may be encodedin hardware, such as a field-programmable gate array, anapplication-specific integrated circuit, or the like, and/or softwareinstructions stored in RAM, ROM and/or other suitable computer-readablemedia for performing the functions associated with the communicationengine 42.

According to one embodiment, the API 40 and the communication engine 42communicate with TCP/IP. Thus, although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1illustrates the API 40 local to the communication engine, it will beunderstood that other suitable embodiments may be implemented withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, the API40 may be local to the sorter 14 and remote from the communicationengine 42. As used herein, remote means that the two components may belocated anywhere in the world with respect to each other and maycommunicate with each other over a communication link. Alternatively,the API 40 may be local to the communication engine 42 and local to thesorter 14. In accordance with one embodiment, the communication engine42 may communicate with a plurality of APIs 40 that are remote from thecommunication engine 42 and each other and that are each local to asorter 14. Thus, the emulator 12 may be used to emulate a plurality ofdifferent types of sorters 14 simultaneously through the use of aplurality of APIs 40.

The check processing system 16 may comprise any suitable combination ofone or more of Vector:Sort, Check Processing Control System, SuperMICR,or any other suitable check processing system, and may be implemented ona mainframe. The check processing system 16 receives the process buffer50 from the communication engine 42 and makes decisions as to theprocessing of the check based on the process buffer 50. The checkprocessing system 16 also provides data to the CLDM module 54 for theCLDM engine 52 to use for matching.

In operation, a set of checks is provided to the sorter 14 forprocessing. As each check is passed through the sorter 14, the MICRreader 20 retrieves the MICR data from the check and copies this data tothe MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30. The sorter 14 then notifiesthe API 40 that the MICR buffer 32 is available for processing. The API40 accesses the MICR buffer 32 and converts the MICR data into a processbuffer 50. The process buffer 50 is then provided to the communicationengine 42. The communication engine 42 calls the CLDM engine 52 whichattempts to match an identifier in the process buffer 50 to anidentifier in the CLDM module 54. If a match is found, the CLDM engine52 retrieves previously generated emulator data for the check andprovides this information to the communication engine 42. However, if nomatch is found, the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44.The SCI emulator 44 then begins executing the SCI code in the SCI module60 and/or an auxiliary program 64 and provides the results to thecommunication engine 42.

The communication engine 42 includes these results in the process buffer50 before providing the process buffer 50 to the check processing system16. The check processing system 16 makes decisions regarding how toprocess the check based on the data in the process buffer 50.

The API 40 generates emulator data based on the updated process buffer50 from the check processing system 16 and copies the emulator data intothe MICR buffer 32 of the shared memory 30 for the sorter 14. The API 40then notifies the sorter 14 that the emulator data is available for thecheck. The interface 34 interprets the updated MICR buffer 32 thatincludes the emulator data in order to determine how to process thecheck. The emulator data instructs the interface 34 whether or not toendorse the check, to record a microfilm image of the check and torecord a digital image of the check. The interface 34 then signals theendorser 22, the microfilm camera 24 and/or the digital camera 26 inaccordance with the feature instructions. According to one embodiment,the interface 34 provides a signal to each of the features 22, 24 and/or26 which are to be activated and provides no signal to the features 22,24 and/or 26 which are not to be activated.

For the digital camera 26, the interface 34 also notifies the digitalcamera 26 which images to record (front and/or back), what type of image(black and white, gray scale or color) to record for the front and whattype of image to record for the back. The interface 34 also identifies apocket 28 to the sorter 14 for the check. After any requestedendorsement is performed and images are recorded, the sorter 14 directsthe check to the pocket 28 identified by the interface 34.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a frame structure 200 for theprocess buffer 50 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The frame structure 200 for the processor buffer 50 comprisesdocument data 202 and a header 204. According to one embodiment, thedocument data 202 comprises MICR data retrieved from a check, and theheader 204 comprises 12 bytes of header data 210, 212, 214, 216, 218,220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230 and 232. When the CLDM engine 52 detects amatch in the CLDM module 54 for the check being processed, the header204 is replaced with data stored in the CLDM module 54.

In accordance with one embodiment, the header 204 comprises two fieldvalidity bytes 210 and 212. The first field validity byte 210 comprisesa bit to indicate an end-of-file for code line data matching and sevenbits to indicate a digit error in one of seven corresponding fields. Thesecond field validity byte 212 comprises one bit to indicate that eitherthe opening symbol for the first field was missing from the check or theleading edge of the check was damaged. The second field validity byte212 also comprise seven bits to indicate an invalid length or a specialsymbol sequence error in one of seven corresponding fields. An invalidlength or special symbol sequence error indicates that the opening orclosing symbol for a field was either missing or incorrect or that thenumber of digits detected in the field was incorrect.

The header 204 also comprises two SCI results bytes 214 and 216. Thesebytes 214 and 216 both comprise data generated by the SCI emulator 44through the execution of SCI code in the SCI module 60 and/or anauxiliary program 64.

The error/feature data byte 218 comprises a bit to indicate the validityof endorsement data, a bit to indicate the validity of INF data, a bitto indicate a power encoder error, a bit to indicate a time-out error, abit to indicate an image request, a bit to indicate that an OCR3 featurewas initialized “on” and two bits for communicating any suitable data.

The feature control byte 220 comprises a bit to indicate that apredetermined number of checks have been recorded by the microfilmcamera 24, causing a pause to occur while the microfilm is spaced. Thefeature control byte 220 also comprises a bit to enable a flash forlighting the check as the microfilm camera 24 records a microfilm imageof the check. The feature control byte 220 also comprises a bit that maycause a one to be added to the value of a high order segment of an indexnumber, while the low order segment is reset to zero. The featurecontrol byte 220 also comprises a bit that may cause a one to be addedto the low order segment of the index number.

The feature control byte 220 also comprises a bit to inhibit theprinting of endorsement data by the endorser 22 and a bit to inhibit theprinting of INF data. Similar to the bits relating to the index number,the feature control byte 220 comprises a bit to increment the INF highorder segment, while resetting the INF low order segment to zero, and abit to increment the INF low order segment.

The pocket selection byte 222 comprises three bits for module selection,three bits for pocket selection and two bits for communicating anysuitable data. The feature data byte 224 comprises a bit to indicatethat the endorsement feature was initialized “on,” a bit that forces thecheck to be directed to the first pocket of the first module, a bit toindicate that power encoding was not done or was invalid, a bit toindicate that no code line data matching was attempted by the CLDMengine 52, a bit to indicate that the process buffer 50 was modified byspecified macros or functions, a bit to indicate that the microfilmcamera was initialized “on,” a bit to indicate that the INF feature wasinitialized “on” and a bit to identify a first document processed aftera microfilm space.

The special condition data byte 226 comprises a bit to indicate ahardware-detected autoselect. A hardware-detected autoselect indicatesthat at least one of the following conditions occurred: multiple checks,a distance between checks less than a predetermined amount, a checklength greater than a predetermined amount, a check length less than apredetermined amount, a distance between the leading edges ofconsecutive checks less than a predetermined amount and a special symbolsequence error.

The special condition data byte 226 also comprises a bit to indicate aninvalid module-pocket code autoselect, a bit to indicate a latemodule-pocket code autoselect, a bit to indicate a SCI error, a bit toindicate a merged document, a bit to indicate that the CLDM engine 52found no match in the CLDM module 54, a bit to indicate that a highorder zero correction occurred and a bit to indicate that a symbol errorcorrection occurred.

The routing/SCI data byte 228 comprises four bits for a routing numberself-check digit, one bit to indicate an invalid routing numberself-check digit, a bit to indicate a SCI pause and two bits forcommunicating any suitable data. The document number byte 230 comprisesa document sequence number for the check. According to one embodiment,this number ranges from XOO to XFF.

The header type byte 232 identifies the type of header 204 for theprocess buffer 50. According to one embodiment, the header type maycomprise a document data header, an exception header, a SCI errorheader, a data management header or any other suitable header type.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing checksusing the system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The method begins at step 300 where the sorter 14 is loadedwith a tray of checks. At step 302, the sorter 14 is activated. At step304, the MICR reader 20 retrieves MICR data from a check. At step 306,the MICR data retrieved by the MICR reader 20 is copied to the MICRbuffer 32 in the shared memory 30. The sorter 14 then notifies the API40 that the MICR buffer 32 contains data for a check in step 308.

At step 310, the API 40 generates and provides a standardized processbuffer 50, which is based on the MICR buffer 32, to the communicationengine 42. The standardized process buffer is in a format that iscompatible with the check sorter that is being emulated by the emulator12. In one embodiment, data is mapped from a hardware-specific domain toa standard-domain. At step 314, decisions are made for the check basedon the process buffer 50. At step 316, these decisions are provided tothe communication engine 42.

At step 318, the communication engine 42 provides the process buffer 50incorporating the decisions to the API 40. At 320, the API 40 updatesthe MICR buffer 32 with emulator data based on the process buffer 50received back from the communication engine 42. In one embodiment, theemulator data is copied to predefined fields in the MICR buffer 32.

At step 322, the interface 34 interprets the emulator data in the MICRbuffer 32. At step 323, the interface 34 activates the appropriatefeatures 22, 24 and/or 26 in accordance with the emulator data. Atdecisional step 324, a determination is made regarding whether or notthe endorser 22 has been activated. If the endorser 22 has beenactivated, the methods follows the Yes branch from decisional step 324to step 326 where the endorser 22 endorses the check. However, if theendorser has not been activated, the method follows the No branch fromdecisional step 324 to decisional step 328.

At decisional step 328, a determination is made regarding whether or notthe microfilm camera 24 has been activated. If the microfilm camera 24has been activated, the method follows the Yes branch from decisionalstep 328 to step 330 where the microfilm camera 24 records a microfilmimage of the check. However, if the microfilm camera 24 has not beenactivated, the method follows the No branch from decisional step 328 todecisional step 332.

At decisional step 332, a determination is made regarding whether or notthe digital camera 26 has been activated. If the digital camera 26 hasbeen activated, the method follows the Yes branch from decisional step332 to step 334 where the digital camera 26 records one or more digitalimages of the check. As described in more detail above, the digitalcamera 26 may record an image of the front and/or an image of the backof the check. In addition, each image recorded by the digital camera 26may be either black and white, gray scale or color. Thus, one or more ofa number of indicators may be set for the digital camera 26. Returningto decisional step 332, if the digital camera 26 has not been activated,the method follows the No branch from decisional step 332 to step 336.

At step 336, the interface 34 provides a pocket selection for the check.At step 338, the sorter 14 directs the check to the identified pocket28. At decisional step 340, the sorter 14 makes a determinationregarding whether there are more checks to process. If there are morechecks to process, the method follows the Yes branch from decisionalstep 340 and returns to step 304 where the MICR reader 20 retrieves MICRdata from a subsequent check. However, if there are no more checks toprocess, the method follows No branch from decisional step 340 at whichpoint the method comes to an end. Thus, each check passing through thesorter 14 is individually processed by the check processing system 16through the use of the emulator 12 that allows the check processingsystem 16 to communicate with the sorter 14 as though the sorter 14 werea different type of sorter.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating betweenthe communication engine 42 and the sorter 14 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step 400 wherethe API 40 accesses the MICR buffer in the memory 30 that is shared withthe sorter 14. At step 402, the API 40 converts the MICR buffer 32 intoa standardized process buffer 50. At step 404, the API 40 provides thestandardized process buffer 50 to the communication engine 42.

At step 406, the API 40 receives the process buffer 50 incorporatingdecisions made by the check processing system 16 back from thecommunication engine 42. At step 408, the API 40 generates emulator databased on the process buffer 50. At step 410, the API 40 provides theemulator data to the sorter 14 by updating the MICR buffer 32 in theshared memory 30 with the emulator data. At step 412, the API 40notifies the sorter 14 that the MICR buffer 32 has been updated, atwhich point the method comes to an end.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating betweenthe check processing system 16 and the emulator API 40 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step500 where the communication engine receives the standardized processbuffer 50 from the API 40. At step 502, the communication engine 42calls the CLDM engine 52 which attempts to match an identifier in theprocess buffer 50 to an identifier stored in the CLDM module 54. Atdecisional step 504, a determination is made regarding whether or not amatching identifier was found in the CLDM module 54.

If a matching identifier was found, the method follows the Yes branchfrom decisional step 504 to step 506 where the process buffer 50 isupdated with data stored in the CLDM module 54. At step 508, thecommunication engine 42 provides the updated process buffer 50 to theAPI 40, at which point the method comes to an end.

Returning to decisional step 504, if no matching identifier was found,the method follows the No branch from decisional step 504 to step 510.At step 510, the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44 whichmay execute SCI code stored in the SCI module 60 and/or one or moreauxiliary programs 64 identified in the program file 62. At step 512,the communication engine 42 incorporates results received from the SCIemulator 44 into the process buffer 50. At step 514, the communicationengine 42 provides the updated process buffer 50 to the check processingsystem 16.

At step 516, the communication engine 42 receives decisions regardingthe check from the check processing system 16. At step 518, thecommunication engine 42 incorporates the decisions received from thecheck processing system 16 into the process buffer 50. At step 520, thecommunication engine 42 provides the process buffer 50 to the API 40 andto the CLDM engine 52. At step 522, the CLDM engine 52 stores theprocess buffer 50 in the CLDM module 54 for future matching, at whichpoint the method comes to an end.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present inventionencompasses such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A check sorter, comprising: a MICR reader operable to read checkinformation from a check being processed by the sorter; a digitalimaging system operable to image a front and a back of the check beingprocessed by the sorter; a controller responsive to externally-generatedinstructions based on the check information, the controller operable tocontrol the digital imaging system to selectively image one or more ofthe front and the back of the check; and wherein the check sorter iscommunicably coupled with an incompatible check processing systemthrough an emulator, the check processing system generating theexternally-generated instructions.
 2. The check sorter of claim 1, thecontroller further operable to control the digital imaging system toimage the front of the check in black and white, gray scale or colorbased on the instructions.
 3. The check sorter of claim 1, thecontroller further operable to control the digital imaging system toimage the back of the check in black and white, gray scale or colorbased on the instructions.
 4. The check sorter of claim 1, the emulatoroperable to: access MICR buffer data provided by the MICR reader, theMICR buffer data based on the read check information; generate processbuffer data based on the MICR buffer data, the process buffer datastandardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters;identify the instructions for the check based on the process bufferdata; and communicate the instructions to the controller.
 5. The checksorter of claim 4, the standardized process buffer data comprising aformat compatible with the check sorter and compatible with the checkprocessing system.
 6. The check sorter of claim 4, the MICR datacomprising an account number for the check.
 7. The check sorter of claim1, the external check processing system remote from the check sorter. 8.The check sorter of claim 1 comprising an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP seriescheck sorter.
 9. The check sorter of claim 1, the instructions furthercomprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement ofthe check by the check sorter.
 10. The check sorter of claim 1, theinstructions further comprising a pocket selection instruction operableto direct the check to a specified pocket.
 11. A method for imaging acheck during check sorting operations, comprising: reading checkinformation from the check; receiving, from an incompatible checkprocessing system through an emulator, externally-generated instructionsidentifying an imaging option based on the check information, theimaging options comprising no image, a front image, a back image, and afront and back image; and selectively imaging the check based on theimaging option.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:receiving externally-generated instructions identifying an imaging typebased on the check information, the imaging types comprising black andwhite, gray scale, and color; and imaging the check based on the imagingtype.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: accessing MICRbuffer data provided during the check sorting operations, the MICRbuffer data based on the read check information; generating processbuffer data based on the MICR buffer data, the process buffer datastandardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters; andidentifying the instructions for the check based on the process bufferdata.
 14. The method of claim 13, the standardized process buffer datacomprising a format compatible with the check sorter and compatible withthe check processing system.
 15. The method of claim 13, the MICR datacomprising an account number for the check.
 16. The method of claim 11comprising an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP series check sorter.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, the instructions further comprising an endorsement instructionoperable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter. 18.The method of claim 11, the instructions further comprising a pocketselection instruction operable to direct the check to a specifiedpocket.